ABOUT 20 pro-choice supporters gathered at Vansittart Park recently to support women in America.
It comes following the overturning of Roe vs Wade, a 1973 decision to protect a pregnant woman’s right to choose to have an abortion.
The American Supreme Court overturned the ruling within recent weeks, leaving each state of America to make its own laws regarding abortion.
Wanting to show support to the women in America, many gathered at Vansittart Park where a number of activists gave speeches regarding how they felt about the decision.
Event organiser Claire Moore said she was happy with the turn out of the event, stating there were minimal negative comments.
“We got so many toots and waves, even a few people joined in with our chant when we were marching down the street,” Ms Moore said.
“I think the rights need to be given back to the women and I think they can see from all the protests not only in America and Australian but all over the world that they won’t stop until women’s rights are given back.”
The event comes as a law passed more than a year ago to remove abortion from South Australia’s criminal code which came into effect yesterday.
Ms Moore said she was happy about the change to the South Australian laws, yet said it should never have been up for discussion at the beginning.
“A woman’s body should never be up for debate as it is our body, our choice and it is up to the women not politicians as to what we choose to do with our bodies,” she said.
Hoping to organise more protest movements in the future, Ms Moore said those who had missed out but still wanted to support the cause were able to do so through donations to America’s Planned Parenthood organisations in America to keep it open.
The same day a number of State politicians attended a pro-life event aimed at encouraging young people to “rise up and fight for the human rights of the unborn” and for “greater support and proper health care for their mothers” according to the event’s website.
The Youth Leadership Training Day event was hosted by pro-life group Enid Lyons List which actively advocates against abortions with Minister for Regional Development and Primary Industries Clare Scriven in attendance alongside Opposition leader David Speirs, Liberal MPs Heidi Girolamo and Nicola Centofanti and SA Best’s Frank Pangallo.
A spokesperson for Minister Scriven stated the MP did attend the event as she believed it was “important to her to have conversations with and hear from women and young people about their experiences, views and concerns”.
The spokesperson said Minister Scriven had previously spoken in Parliament about her personal views on abortion.
It was also understood the venue was changed at the last minute due to pro-choice protesters at the steps of the Thebarton Community Centre in Adelaide’s west with one protester reportedly seen holding a sign stating “Minister Scriven really said ‘I’m not like other girls'”.
Mr Speirs reportedly withdrew from the event.
